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Group 1 winner in waiting by Equiano

Sunday, 19 July 2015

Strath Burn bagged his first black-type in the G3 Hackwood Stakes on Saturday and trainer Charlie Hills reckons it won’t be his last.

The Equiano colt stuck close to the pace before toughing out a one-length victory from Portamento (Shamardal). “The ground might have been a little too quick but he goes on it,” jockey Jim Crowley said. “He was very brave in a battle from the two (furlongs) and it worked out nicely.”

Hills is revelling in a red-hot season with G1 July Cup hero Muhaarar and he reckons Strath Burn is a Group 1 winner in waiting. There are Group 1 nominations for him in the Nunthorpe Stakes at York in August and Betfred Sprint Cup at Haydock in September, however, Hills won’t throw him straight into the deep end of a Group 1.

“He’ll be a better horse with more juice in the ground,” Hills said. “It’s great to get him on a nice, level track. There’s a few nice races for him now and France could be an option.”

His sire Equiano heads the winners (27) and wins (33) tables on the English second-season premiership and is third on the prizemoney table with earnings of 244,735 pounds. He shuttles to Swettenham Stud for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.